Patient's question:
A 4-year-old boy often stares blankly for no apparent reason, and it lasts for a few minutes. He has been taking Depakine, but it hasn't been effective. I want to know if epilepsy affects children.Doctor's answer:
The preliminary symptoms of epilepsy are generally characterized by sudden cessation of movement, vacant staring, and abrupt termination after five to ten seconds. In severe cases, it may manifest as sudden loss of consciousness, cessation of breathing, convulsions of the limbs, clenched fists, upward rolling of the eyes or black pupils deviating to one side, bluish complexion, foaming at the mouth, often accompanied by tongue bites and incontinence. The main triggers for epilepsy symptoms include three major factors: fatigue, strong stimuli from light, sound, and electricity; and frequently consuming chocolate or drinking beverages containing cocaine. Clinically, it has been observed that epilepsy is most prevalent during the ages of six or seven, as children's nervous system functions are not yet fully developed at this stage, making them particularly susceptible to strong reactions from minor stimuli, especially to adverse external influences.